Thunderbolts* remains one of Marvel Studios' most mysterious and intriguing upcoming movies, with that asterisk only serving to heighten anticipation for a project many believe is secretly Dark Avengers.
There are perhaps a few too many heroes on the team for that to happen (for now, at least), with it currently looking a lot like a sequel to Black Widow and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
In the latter, Bucky Barnes was fully freed from his Winter Soldier programming and now seems to be working with the CIA as part of this government-approved team. Rumour has it his role in Thunderbolts* isn't massive, leading to concerns this could be where the hero's story ends.
We'll see, but a new set photo has surfaced today showcasing Bucky's overhauled appearance.
He's not suited up but is wearing a traditional suit and rocking a pretty mean goatee. Is he undercover or just shaking up his appearance? That remains to be seen, though we're hoping more set photos of the cast will soon find their way online.
Oh, and while that may look like Jeremy Renner to Sebastian Stan's left, it's just a crew member who shares a passing resemblance!
“I'm excited," Stan said of Thunderbolts* in January. "I’m going to go back basically in a month or so. I’ve missed it. It’s a great cast. The batting average is so high that it’s difficult to always land everything right away. It’s always been a great experience. With this one in particular, I think there’s a lot of good things."
Much to the disappointment of many fans, Bucky isn't expected to appear in Captain America: Brave New World. Still, you can see him in Thunderbolts* in the Instagram post below.
Confirmed cast members for Thunderbolts* include Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Florence Pugh as Yelena Boleva, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster.
Recently, Geraldine Viswanathan replaced Ayo Edebiri in an undisclosed role, while Lewis Pullman has taken over as The Sentry following Steve Yeun's shock departure from the movie. Both he and Edebiri are said to have left due to scheduling issues.
Written by Eric Pearson, Lee Sung Jin, and Joanna Calo, and directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts* is currently set to be released in theaters on May 2, 2025.